I was rather surprised to find out that Arthur C Clarke died yesterday. I didn't even know he was still alive! He's one of the greatest science fiction writers- up there with HG Wells (The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds), Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea), and Isaac Asimov (I, Robot). Through the writings of these four men, we can track the change in scientific views of God over the past century and a half in direct relation to the introduction of Darwinism in 1859. Books could be written on this topic, and indeed have been. But that's not what I want to talk about.
On Facebook, there's a sticker that says "Religion: my favorite substitute for thinking." I can't help but be saddened by this statement, naturally. As a lay theologian, I spend a good percentage of my time thinking, especially about how my faith affects my day-to-day life. It forms my framework for the way I view the world. However, our culture has shunned religion as a crutch for fools and weaklings.
I ran across a blog the other day called "Carried the Cross: Thoughts from Life After Jesus". It's the story of a young man (young being 21 or so) who got saved when he was 14 and was on fire for the Lord, very involved in his church and the youth ministry, even leading it for a time. But when he went to a Christian college, he found that the faculty, books, and students had no answers for the pressing philosophical questions he had to ask about his faith. He became increasingly disgusted by the hypocrisy he saw around him and even more disgusted by the ignorance. So he left the faith and became an atheist. He shares a rash of reactions of the Christians around him (he chose to stay at the same college to finish his degree), some of them lousy, some good, and some just plain silly. But who is to blame for this young man's slow loss of taste for Christianity? Who really convinced him that God does not exist? We could point fingers almost anywhere. The church. The college. The Christians around him. Satan.
But the sad truth is that this young man has a choice. He's chosen to reject God for the time being, but I pray that he will find his way back as the Scripture says, "Your Father in Heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost." (Matt. 18:14).
Arthur C Clarke too, had a choice. He chose atheism as well. My mother always says, "Well, he's not an atheist anymore!" and that makes me sad too. I've always wished that perhaps when people die, they are given one last chance. They stand before God and He allows them to see the truth clear and unperverted. Then none of them would be lost, for who indeed would reject God after seeing Him in His full glory? But that's not what Scripture says.
I know that God, in His sovereignty, does what is best and glorifying to Him. I know that my view of the issues is skewed. I know that it's better for God to be in charge because He is all-knowing, all-powerfull, all those things that we aren't.
But I'm still sad that Arthur C Clarke has now faced his Maker, and it's too late.
1 comment:
It is indeed a sad thing to see a talented writer and thinker come to the end of his life without knowing God.
On the other hand, I'm pleased to see what I think is an increase in thoughtfulness and a yearning for knowledge among Christians. In my experience, I've known more atheists than Christians who chose their world view in an attempt to opt out of having to think for themselves. I believe it's easier to be an atheist these days because it has become more of the norm and therefore it's less likely that your beliefs will be challenged.
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